Students returning to class Monday morning at Elgin Community College were greeted by warm sunlight streaming through windows like this one at the Health and Life Sciences building on the Elgin campus.Christopher Hankins | Staff Photographer

Kids listen intently as the FullScore Chamber Orchestra performes music from video games at Woodland Intermediate School in Gurnee Monday.Steve Lundy | Staff Photographer

Patrick Sharp, of the Chicago Blackhawks, visits students at Lisle Junior High School. The students won the visit when they participated in Goodwill's Pass It On Donation Challenge and donated nearly 75,000 items to Goodwill.Mark Black | Staff Photographer

Vincent Izquierdo provides a free lift to Maria Gandara-Mejia, along with some pumpkins they picked out Monday afternoon at Goebbert's Pumpkin Patch in Hampshire. Both are from Lake in the Hills.Christopher Hankins | Staff Photographer

Surrounded by her classmates, Amelia Gesicki tries her hand at making apple cinnamon muffins under the watchful eye of Executive Chef Keith Freeman, right. Fourth graders from Stella May Swartz school in Oakbrook Terrace got an inside look Monday at the operation of the Hilton Suites hotel in Oakbrook Terrace.Scott Sanders | Staff Photographer

Several weeks ago the traveling Wall That Heals exhibit made a stop in downtown Elgin. It's a small-scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. I was impressed with the volunteerism that went into the entire project - not just to set up the massive display, but what it took to stand watch over it 24 hours a day while it was here. This photo was published in the Perspective column in the print edition.Christopher Hankins | Staff Photographer

Neil Stout, 64, of Schaumburg, crosses the bridge next to Higgins Road on Monday afternoon as he does five times a weeks in a ten-mile loop on the Busse Forest West bicycle trail for exercise and good clean air.Mark Welsh | Staff Photographer

First graders Kristian Garcia, center, and Lucia Buckley, from Laura McCathy's class, place pennies in a boat as they conduct experiments Tuesday at Fremont Elementary School in Mundelein. As part of a Columbus Day project, students designed boats to hold as many pennies as they could until they sank.Gilbert R. Boucher II | Staff Photographer

Katlyn Theusch, 6, zooms ahead of her mom Kristin as she heads to school during the "Walk + Roll to School Week" at Hammerschmidt school in Lombard. The district encouraged students to walk or ride to school from Sept. 20 to Oct. 11 to help reduce obesity, increase physical activity and decrease reliance on cars.Mark Black | Staff Photographer

Kaylie Kojima, 4, of Sugar Grove, smiles at her mom Dena and hikes up her pants after getting wet in "Kingfisher Crossing" at Hawks Hollow Nature Playground at Peck Farm Park in Geneva Tuesday. The new play area had it's grand opening last weekend and features natural elements including sand, water, wood and plants. It is designed to engage children in environmental learning.Rick West | Staff Photographer

Spaulding School second grader Erika Relayson looks over books on a fire hydrant shelf Wednesday after the display was unveiled by local fire and village officials.Paul Valade | Staff Photographer

Kristin Richey and her son Brayden, 2, of Lombard, check out the inside of a fire truck during the Lombard Fire Department's open house in observation of Fire Prevention Week Wednesday.Mark Black | Staff Photographer

Physical Education Teacher John Rueth high fives fifth grader Tommy Pappas as students at Daniel Wright Junior High in Lincolnshire participated in a school walk on Thursday to benefit the American Diabetes Association. Rueth himself suffers from diabetes. Students have been learning about diabetes nutrition, education and proper physical fitness activities.Steve Lundy | Staff Photographer

Betty Marmolejo, of Aurora, places the head of the scarecrow of her family's entry in the whimsical category during setup for the Scarecrow Festival at Lincoln Park in St. Charles on Thursday. The scarecrow, titled "Magic Mike" was the idea of her son, Michael, and his friend.Laura Stoecker | Staff Photographer

Dressed as a monster, Marley Fox is held by his mom Jordana Fox, while waiting to board a truck during Trucks, Trunks and Treats at the Vernon Hills Sullivan Community Center Saturday.Bob Chwedyk | Staff Photographer

Victoria Les, 7, left to right, her sister Jessica Les, 9, and Zoe Dessimoz, 7, all of Mount Prospect, wait in the candy tent line at Fall Festival in Mount Prospect on Saturday.George LeClaire | Staff Photographer

Alexa Galindo, 7, of Hoffman Estates, makes a piņata during the Hoffman Estates Heritage Festival with her brother, Gael, 1, and mom, Rosa, at the village hall Saturday.JOE LEWNARD | Staff Photographer

Dressed as a princess, Stuti Jain is helped down from a fire truck by her dad Ashish, during Trucks, Trunks and Treats at the Vernon Hills Sullivan Community Center Saturday.Bob Chwedyk | Staff Photographer

Three generations of the Dale family of St. Charles, Bill, his son David, and his son William, 2, walk through a rail car Sunday at the Fox River Trolley Museum Pumpkin Trolley fest in South Elgin.John Starks | Staff Photographer

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